Cellular Telephone Using Multiple Accounts

Abstract

A cellular telephone instrument having a plurality of SIM card slots has a plurality of SIM cards inserted, each of the SIM cards identifying a corresponding one service identity distinct from service identities identified by others of said SIM cards, and a control element in the instrument enabling selection of one of the plurality of service identities and effectuating operation of the instrument under the selected service identity.

1 . Apparatus comprising:
 a cellular telephone device having a plurality of slots for receiving SIM cards;   a plurality of SIM cards, each inserted in a corresponding one of the plurality of slots;
 said plurality of SIM cards carrying encrypted data identifying a plurality of service account identities, each of said SIM cards identifying a corresponding one service identity distinct from service identities identified by others of said SIM cards; 
   a control element in said telephone device enabling selection of one of said plurality of service identities and effectuating operation of said telephone device under the selected service identity.   
   
   
       2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said telephone device has a plurality of non-interfering transmitter/receiver components, each associated with a corresponding one of said slots. 
   
   
       3 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said telephone device has a single transmitter/receiver component. 
   
   
       4 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said telephone device has two SIM card slots and further wherein the number of SIM cards is two. 
   
   
       5 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said telephone device, on powering on, initializes service for each of the plurality of service accounts, registering the different accounts in succession. 
   
   
       6 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said control element responds to an incoming call on an active account service by selecting the corresponding service identity and indicating to the user the service identity for which the call is incoming. 
   
   
       7 . Apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the indication to the user of the selected service identity is selected from the group consisting of a screen display, a distinctive ring tone, or a distinctive vibration. 
   
   
       8 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said control element responds to an incoming call on a second active account service during active use of the telephone device in a call on a first active account service by indicating to the user the second service identity for which the call is incoming. 
   
   
       9 . Apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the indication to the user of the second service identity is selected from the group consisting of a screen display, a distinctive ring tone, or a distinctive vibration. 
   
   
       10 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said control element enables user selection of one of said plurality of service identities for effectuating an originated call. 
   
   
       11 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a call logging component in said telephone device and wherein said call logging component separately logs activity in each of the plurality of service identities. 
   
   
       12 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a short message service component in said telephone device and wherein said short message service component distinguishes among the plurality of service identities. 
   
   
       13 . Apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein said short message service component indicates to the user the service identity for which a message is incoming. 
   
   
       14 . Apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the indication to the user of the service identity is selected from the group consisting of a screen display, a distinctive ring tone, or a distinctive vibration. 
   
   
       15 . Apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein said short message service component enables user selection of one of said plurality of service identities for effectuating an originated message. 
   
   
       16 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said telephone device is enabled for data transfer and further wherein said control element enables user selection of one of said plurality of service identities for effectuating a data transfer call. 
   
   
       17 . Method comprising:
 turning on a cellular telephone instrument which has a plurality of SIM cards inserted into a plurality of card slot provided in the instrument, the plurality of SIM cards carrying encrypted data identifying a plurality of service account identities, each of said SIM cards identifying a corresponding one service identity distinct from service identities identified by others of said SIM cards;   initializing service for each of the plurality of service accounts;   registering the different accounts in succession;   selecting one of the plurality of service identities and effectuating operation of said telephone device under the selected service identity.   
   
   
       18 . Method according to  claim 17  wherein the selecting is performed by a user initiating use of one of the service identities. 
   
   
       19 . Method according to  claim 17  wherein the selecting precedes initiation of a outgoing call. 
   
   
       20 . Method according to  claim 17  wherein the selecting follows reception of an incoming call.